3 Denver family members killed in New Mexico crash

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VAUGHN, N.M. — Three members of a Denver family, including a child, were killed after their vehicle hit a cow and then collided head-on with semitrailer early Saturday morning, the New Mexico State Police said.

The crash happened about 3 a.m. on U.S. 54 north of Vaughn in central New Mexico, KRQE reported.

Police said a Saturn struck a cow in the southbound lane. The impact sent the vehicle into the northbound lane, where it collided head-on with a semitrailer.

Flames erupted in the vehicle and the semitrailer. The driver of the semitrailer was able to escape and tried to free the passengers in the Saturn but was unsuccessful.

Investigators said the driver who died has been identified as 26-year-old Guerrero Jimenez. Also in the vehicle were 75-year-old Ofahalea Sanchez and 3-year-old Angela Jimenez. They were pronounced dead at the scene.